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Spicy Grapefruit Habanero Margarita (Quick + Easy!)

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

May 16, 2025

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5 from 5 votes

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Habanero cocktail pinterest image.
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This Grapefruit Habanero Margarita recipe is perfect for sipping on summer days! Made with just 5-ingredients!

Two spicy grapefruit margaritas on counter with grapefruit and lime wedges.

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Table of Contents

  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to Make It
  • Recipe Tips
  • What’s the Difference Between a Paloma and a Grapefruit Margarita?
  • Full Recipe

Can’t get enough margarita recipes? Try my Hibiscus Margarita, Grilled Pineapple Margarita, and Italian Margarita too!

It seems really easy to come up with a good reason to have a cocktail, right?

  • It’s 5 o’clock
  • It’s sunny outside
  • It’s the weekend (cheers to the freakin’ weekend)
  • The season premiere of Real Housewives is on
  • Etc., etc., etc.

I’m going to give you a few more reason to delight in this particular cocktail. It’s super easy to make, it’s spicy and it’s totally refreshing!

It’s a Spicy Grapefruit Margarita.

Two habanero margaritas on counter.

Why you’ll love this recipe

This spicy margarita recipe skips the time consuming step of infusing the tequila with habanero. Instead, all of the heat comes from a delicious habanero simple syrup that comes together easily in just 10 minutes.

To make the spicy margaritas, just add a bit of it to a cocktail shaker along with the tequila, grapefruit juice and a splash of triple sec. Rim your glass with some salt (I LOVE using these easy to make citrus salts), pour out your concoction, top it with some extra ice and you are good to go!

No fancy ingredients, no time consuming steps, no excuses NOT to make this delicious Habanero Margarita.

Ingredients Needed

  • Tequila
  • Grapefruit Juice
  • Habanero Simple Syrup – We’ll make this from scratch in just 30 minutes.
  • Triple Sec or Cointreau (read about the differences here)

How to Make It

  1. Rim Your Glass: Run a lime wedge along the lip of your glass and dip in salt to cover the rim.
  2. Combine Ingredients: Combine the tequila, grapefruit juice, triple sec and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
  3. Shake: Shake to combine and strain into a salted margarita glass.
  4. Enjoy: Add ice cubes and serve.
Grapefruit margaritas on counter with plate of salt and shaker.
Overhead shot of prepared margarita.

Recipe Tips

  • The finished habanero simple syrup will keep, refrigerated, for about 2 weeks. Try using it in any cocktail that calls for simple syrup, or add it to lemonade.
  • You can control the heat of the simple syrup by letting the habanero steep for a longer or shorter period of time before straining it. Just give it a taste and adjust to your personal preference.
  • Want no spice at all? Just make the simple syrup without steeping the pepper in it.
  • You can also swap out the habanero for jalapeno or serrano pepper.

What’s the Difference Between a Paloma and a Grapefruit Margarita?

  • A grapefruit margarita is normally sweetened with a bit of triple sec, like a traditional margarita. A paloma is made with grapefruit juice, tequila and a bit of soda water to give it some fizz. Check out my paloma cocktail recipe too!
Overhead shot of prepared margarita.

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Browse More Margaritas
  • More → 30+ Flavored Margaritas
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Did you try this habanero tequila cocktail?

If you loved this habanero cocktail I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on  Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

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Overhead shot of prepared margarita.

Full Recipe

Grapefruit Habanero Margarita

This Grapefruit Habanero Margarita is the perfect spicy cocktail for sipping on summer days!
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin
Serves 1 cocktail
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 30 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 45 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • Cocktail Shaker

Ingredients

Simple Syrup

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 habanero (sliced)

Margarita

  • 2 ounces tequila
  • 2 ounces ruby red grapefruit juice
  • 1 ounce cointreau (or triple sec)
  • 1 ounce spicy simple syrup
  • Salt (for rimming the glasses (I like to use citrus salts))
  • Lime wedges (for rimming the glasses)

Instructions

Simple Syrup

  • In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar. Heat over high heat, stirring so that the sugar dissolves into the water. The mixture will go from milky white to clear. At this point, add the sliced habanero.
  • Allow the mixture to come to a rapid boil, and then immediately turn the heat down so it just simmers. Let it simmer for 10 minutes, and then remove from the heat. The syrup will reduce and thicken slightly, and will take on a slightly orange tint.
  • Allow the syrup to cool (about 30 minutes). Remove the pepper pieces and any stray floating seeds, and discard them.

Margarita

  • Run a lime wedge along the lip of your glass and dip in salt to cover the rim. Combine the tequila, grapefruit juice, triple sec and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Shake to combine and strain into a salted margarita glass. Add ice cubes and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 91mg | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin C: 15.3mg | Iron: 1.2mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

This recipe was originally published in 2015. It was updated in 2021 to add new photographs, and again in 2023 to add new information. The habanero drink recipe remains the same. Enjoy!

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5 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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25 responses

  1. Bill Volckening
    June 13, 2015

    Those look great!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      June 16, 2015

      Thanks Bill! They’re pretty darn tasty – Easy to drink more than one… or two… or…

      Reply
  2. Susannah
    June 13, 2015

    Yum!!! I want to try this!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      June 16, 2015

      Perfect for hot summer nights Susannah!

      Reply
  3. S Taft
    June 14, 2015

    Not a big drinker, but that looks amazingly tasty (replacing the alcohol with sprite)… and refreshing!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      June 15, 2015

      That would totally work – Faux cocktails are just as yummy!

      Reply
  4. Richa
    June 15, 2015

    Great recipe! Pinned and yummed!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      June 15, 2015

      Thanks Richa – These margaritas are perfect for summer!

      Reply
  5. Christine from Cook the Story
    June 15, 2015

    If I close my eyes, I can almost taste the tangy, spicy flavor in my mouth. What a great cocktail recipe.

    Reply
    1. Erin
      June 15, 2015

      The habanero and grapefruit make a great combination for hot summer nights!!!

      Reply
  6. pam (Sidewalk Shoes)
    June 17, 2015

    this sounds wonderful! I would love it if you would link it up to tipsy tuesday at Grey is the New Black!

    Reply
  7. Laura @MotherWouldKnow
    July 27, 2015

    I love grapefruit and I’m a huge magarita fan, so I can’t imagine a better summer drink:) Now, if only I would finally buy those citrus salts – I could finally make a fabulous margarita at home instead of just ordering them every time I go out for drinks.

    Reply
    1. Erin
      July 27, 2015

      Laura – Don’t buy the citrus salts! Make them – It’s EASY!!! And, cheap!!!

      Reply
  8. 25 Margarita Recipes for Cinco de Mayo – What the Fork
    March 24, 2019

    […] Grapefruit Habanero Margarita – Platings and Pairings […]

    Reply
  9. Neeraj Soni
    May 23, 2019

    Hiii….!!

    This is Neeraj from F and B Stories. First of all, I would like to thank you for sharing such a delicious recepie, The habanero and grapefruit make a great combination for hot summer, and They are just amazing, delicious, and yumm….!!

    it looks soo simple but it was superb…..

    keep sharing
    cheers 🙂

    Reply
    1. Erin
      May 28, 2019

      Thanks Neeraj!

      Reply
  10. Shristi Patni
    September 23, 2020

    5 stars
    Hi Erin! Great recipe! I cannot wait to serve it at my next get-together!

    Reply
  11. mobasir hassan
    September 23, 2020

    5 stars
    A big fan of your recipes and i am very comfortable with them as well. Easy and nicely described. Thanks once again.

    Reply
  12. Spicy Grapefruit Habanero Margarita Cocktail Recipe – LyDerians Corner
    May 7, 2021

    […] Source link […]

    Reply
  13. Spicy Grapefruit Margarita Recipe | bakkbenchersnetwork.com
    May 7, 2021

    […] post Spicy Grapefruit Margarita Recipe appeared first on Platings + […]

    Reply
  14. Nine Easy Margarita Recipes For Your Cinco de Mayo Celebration – Lasonia B Graves
    August 7, 2021

    […] SPICY GRAPEFRUIT MARGARITA A deliciously spicy […]

    Reply
  15. Sahil Sachdeva
    November 7, 2021

    Hey Erin, Nice Blog and Love your recipe and step by step instructions.

    Reply
    1. Erin
      November 9, 2021

      Thank you!

      Reply
  16. Sabrina
    May 20, 2023

    5 stars
    nice margarita, grapefruit is too often ignored, and I have some grapefruit juice in my refrigerator, might have to test these as a brunch component, thank you!

    Reply
  17. formidablestrong
    December 31, 2024

    really really like it

    Reply

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

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